Yackle Brothers Racing dominates at USA Cycling Championships

Jake Yackle, middle, stands on the first-place podium July 6, after winning the USA Cycling, men’s junior 11-12 national championship in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is the Cortez native’s second USA Cycling national title.

Yackle Brothers Racing is taking over.

Jake and Nye Yackle are well known in their hometown of Cortez.

Now they’re known nationally.

“People were coming up to them and shaking their hands, talking to them,” said father and trainer, Kevin Yackle. “It was quite a feeling for them to have people being introduced to them and people saying how much they follow them as racers.”

The rise to endurance mountain bike racing prominence continued July 6, at Sun Valley, Idaho. Jake and Nye Yackle raced in their respective classes at the USA Cycling National Championships with one objective at hand — win.

“I was pretty confident with all the races leading up to Nationals with winning,” Jake Yackle, 11, said.

“This was my race,” a determined Nye added.

For 9-year-old Nye Yackle, he has had to endure often being second to his older brother. And, having to race against people twice his age kept him from finishing near the top in some races.

In Sun Valley, the men’s junior 10-Under cross-country class had racers in Nye’s age group. The four lap, 7-mile race was his for the taking.

“It feels good to show how good I am in my age group,” Nye said.

Nye Yackle did what he set out to do. The kid from Cortez never trailed in the race, dominating his way to a first national championship at 32 minutes, 23 seconds.

For Jake Yackle, things didn’t go as smooth in his race. Although one wouldn’t realize it after seeing his final time. The elder Yackle trailed the first lap of the cross-country men’s junior 11-12 race. Jake’s course was five laps, eight miles long. On the first major incline, that’s when Jake Yackle made his move.

Jake passed Nathan Hickey (Monrovia, Calif.) going up the switchbacks and never trailed again. Even crashing merely just slowed Jake Yackle down, but didn’t derail him of his second USA Cycling national championship.

“I was able pass him, because it goes up a really steep climb,” said Jake Yackle, who clocked in at 38:32. “I just kept gaining. I had a crash, so he closed the gap a little bit. But then I opened it up again. That’s pretty much how it went.”

Hickey came in second in 39:18.

The Yackles each took home gold medals and commemorative first-place USA Cycling National Championship jerseys.

It was a great weekend in Idaho and the Yackles continued their dominance in Taos, N.M., on Saturday.

This time, the Yackles battled 9,300 feet elevation in the annual Frazer Mountain Madness race. Well, considering they routinely practice that high riding in the nearby San Juan Mountains, the Yackles again had a considerable advantage.

And, again, the Yackles would win.

Jake took first in the boys 11-12 Category 2 race. He won an Allison Dunlap USA Cycling gold medal and a Frazer Mountain Madness gold medal. Jake Yackle was second among juniors 18U. His race was 16 miles and a 3,000 foot climb.

Nye Yackle won the 10U class and was awarded an Allison Dunlap gold medal and a Frazer Mountain Madness gold medal. Nye was first-place for all age groups in Category 3. His race was 10 miles and 2,000 feet of climbing.

The Yackles will race again at the Sandia Peak cross-country race in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday, Aug. 6. Fans can check results and scheduling information at www.yacklebrothersracing.wordpress.com.

Nye Yackle, middle, stands on the first-place podium July 6, after winning the USA Cycling, men’s junior 10-Under national championship in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is the Cortez native’s first USA Cycling national title.

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